Fake Repentance

Hosea 6:1–3 (ESV) “Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. 3 Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.”

On the surface, this text looks like Israel heard Hosea's strong words and repented. They did not. There are clues in these lines that the nation told itself that make clear this repentance was hollow and superficial. 

They blame the Lord for their condition, saying, "he has torn us", but it was their own rebellion that led them into misery. They also do not at all mention forgiveness for their sin, but only speak about healing, binding up, and revival. Notice as well, they believe a simple turn to God will be enough to bring immediate change to their condition. Within three days, they will be well. It's not true.

Warren Wiersbe writes this: "Expecting a 'quick fix' is one of the marks of an unrepentant heart that doesn’t want to pay the price for deep cleansing."

This type of "repentance" was common then, and sadly, it is common now. 

The Lord was looking for brokenness over sin; they simply despised its consequences. They wanted the surface-level problems fixed rather than new hearts. So many come to God on these false terms. They want fixing, but they don't want true saving faith. They want relief but not repentance. They want God to simply soothe them so that they might be comfortable in their lifestyle when the real problem is the deep wickedness of their hearts. 

God is not fooled by outward shows of religious pretence, even when such words are recorded in scripture. 

Hosea 6:4–6 (ESV) What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away. 5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. 6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

God declares their love for Him is only temporary, like dew that disappears. We also see the purpose of the prophets. They were God's agents of reproof, stopping Israel in their waywardness and cutting deep into their hearts. God's Word slays. And you know you've heard God truly when your heart is deeply wounded by the condition of your heart.

Finally, we see God's desire and the results of true repentance: steadfast love and the knowledge of God. Jesus will use these words against the Pharisees who criticize His heart for sinners. Truly saved people will be so moved by God's grace that they will seek to extend it to others. 

The Bible reader is hereby challenged to ask themselves a question. Are you really seeking God's will and purpose or only God's gifts and blessings? To be saved is to be fully surrendered to the Lord, to say with the Apostle Paul, "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh." Romans 7:18 (ESV)

When we come to that place, we find grace. When we are truly hateful of that evil within us and not simply the problems around us, then God's Word has gone into effect. 

Don't you see that such salvation frees the sinner from blaming God, demanding God, and belittling God. The sinner is overwhelmed by the majesty and holiness of the perfect justice of God and is born again. 

Amen.